South Florida at SMU College Basketball Picks & Predictions 12/31/2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Moody Coliseum

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The South Florida Bulls head to Moody Coliseum to take on the SMU Mustangs on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has SMU as 23.5 point favorites.

South Florida heads into this matchup with a mark of 7-7. They currently have a point differential of -1.9 as they are averaging 65.6 points per contest while giving up 67.4 per game. SMU has an overall mark of 11-3. They are averaging 75.3 points per contest and giving up 60.4, which is a point differential of 14.9.

Valuable South Florida Bulls Betting Trends

The South Florida Bulls are 4-6 against the spread this season

The South Florida Bulls are 4-6 against the over/under this year

Important SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs are 4-4 against the spread this season

The SMU Mustangs are 4-5 against the over/under this year

Key South Florida Bulls Injuries

11/05/17 G Troy Holston Knee is out indefinitely

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Payton Banks averages 13.7 points per contest while playing 30.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.2 rebounds per contest and distributes 1.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Stephen Jiggets averages 11.9 points per contest in 33.6 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.9 assists per game and 2.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 37% for the season while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Player Spotlight

Shake Milton scores 16.9 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per game this season. He hauls in 4.9 rebounds per contest and has 4.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 83%. Jarrey Foster averages 13.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.9 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.6 rebounds per game and has 3.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage is 66%.

Useful Team Statistics

South Florida averages 65.6 points per contest this year, which is 332nd in the nation. Their average scoring margin is -1.9 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a unit, which has them ranked 284th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 148th in Division 1. They average 36.4 boards per contest and 13.2 assists per game, which ranks them 173rd and 229th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 123rd with 14.2 per game. The Bulls allow 67.4 points per contest, which is 85th in the country. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 100th and 33rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 34.6 rebounds a game which ranks 159th, and they allow 13.4 assists per game which puts them in 181st place in college basketball. They force 11.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 25th in D-1.

Useful Team Statistics

SMU is 172nd in the country with 75.3 points per contest this season. They are 78th in the nation in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 14.9. They shoot 43% from beyond the arc, which is good for 8th in Division 1. They are 205th in the country in rebounding with 35.6 boards per contest and 16th in assists per game with 18.2. The Mustangs are 266th in turnovers per contest with 12.4. The Mustangs give up 60.4 points per game, which ranks them 7th in the nation. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 66th and 174th in those defensive statistics. They rank 106th with 12.1 dimes allowed per game and 51st with 31.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Mustangs are 290th in college basketball in forcing turnovers with 15.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Bulls are 295th in the nation in offensive rating with 97.7, and their defensive rating of 100.4 is ranked 182nd. In terms of pace they are 335th in the country with 66.6 possessions per 40 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 282nd. As a team they are 270th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 298th in Division 1. South Florida is 53rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 73rd in the nation.

Advanced Statistics

SMU is 218th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 20.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 100th in Division 1. The Mustangs are 35th in the nation in defensive rating with 91.9, and their offensive rating of 114.7 is ranked 35th. They are 342nd in D-1 in pace with 65.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 47th. As a unit they are 62nd in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 138th in the country.

Who will win tonight's South Florida/SMU college basketball game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take South Florida +23.5

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